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TTL can stand for Time to Live or Transistor-to-Transistor Logic. Time to Live is a value in networking and computing that sets a data packet's lifespan before it's discarded, preventing infinite loops and managing caches. Transistor-to-Transistor Logic is an older type of digital circuit design that formed the foundation for many early computers and electronic devices.

Time to Live (TTL)

In networking: A value in an IP packet that is decremented by each router it passes through. If it reaches zero before the destination, the packet is dropped. This prevents packets from circulating indefinitely on the network.

In caching: A value that specifies how long a piece of data (like a DNS record) can be stored in a cache before it needs to be revalidated.

In applications: Can be used to manage data in a server or message queue, ensuring it is discarded after a set period to prevent stale data from being used.

Transistor-to-Transistor Logic (TTL)

Technical definition: A type of digital logic where the circuit's logic gates are constructed using discrete transistors.

Historical significance: TTL was a foundational technology in early digital electronics and was widely used in computers, industrial controls, and test equipment.

Modern usage: While newer technologies have replaced it in high-density chips, TTL is still found in some applications and is often used as "glue logic" to connect more modern components.